Suction pick-up apparatus



Sept. 3, 1963 G. F. sANDsTRM ETAL. vSUC-'IION PICK-UP APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1960 United States Patent 3,102,750 SUCTION PICK-UP APPARATUS George F. Sandstrm and Marita Sandstrm, both of 1233 Valley Road, Villanova, Pa. Filed Aug. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 51,175 3 Claims. (Cl. 294-64) This invention relates generally to a suction pick-up apparatus which is especially useful for selectively moving delicate, hard to handle parts from one location to another.

The apparatus of the present invention consists generally of a suction tube adapted to mount a nozzle which through a system of ports .and chambers is connected to a vacuum source. The force at the nozzle to lift an object may be selectively controlled by closing a control port in the apparatus to establish a fluid connection between the nozzle and vacuum source land effect a strong lifting force at the nozzle. By opening the control port to -atmosphere the lifting force is released .and the object being lifted may be released.

The apparatus of the present invention is Iespecially suitable for handling, for example, very thing mica leaves used in electrical capacitors, various micromodular components such as ferrite cores used in electronic .assemblies and microscope cover glasses and similar flat objects which cannot be handled successively with tweezer-type instruments. The apparatus is also suitable for controlled handling of biological specimens which are easily contaminated When handled by hand.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above type for precise handling of delicate parts which eliminates the objectionable features of hand manipulation :and prior known tweezer-type instruments.

A further object of Ithe present invention is to provide suction-type pick-up apparatus of the above type which can accommodate a variety of pick-up attachments or nozzles so that the instrument is suitable for handling small objects having a variety of shapes and sizes, .and wherein the lifting and release of the objects may be selectively controlled by the finger of the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a suction-type picloup apparatus which is of relatively simplified construction and is capable of being manufactured economically, and which, moreover, is extremely eiiicient and effective in operation.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set fonth with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is `a plan view of a suction-type pick-up apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 3-3 of FIG. l, and

FIG. 4 isan enlarged sectional View taken on line 4-4 of HG. l.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral designates `a suction pick-up apparatus made in accordance with the present invention, comprising generally a base member 12, a handle 14 extending from an end of the base 12 surrounding part of a flexible tube 16 which is connected at its inner end to the base 12, and at its outer end to a suitable vacuum source, a housing 18 pivotally mounted on the base and a lsuction pick-up tube 20 detachably connected to the housing. A network of ports and chambers, including a main control port 22 in the housing 18, is provided in the apparatus, whereby the pick-up tube 20 may be selectively connected to the vacuum source to pick up objects, and to the atmosphere to release objects. The apparatus is employed by the user by gripping the handle 14, and when it is desired to pick 3,162,759I Patented Sept. 3, 1963 up objects a finger is placed over the control port 22 to establish a lifting force at the outer end of the pick-up tube. When it is desired to release the object, the nger is removed from the control port 22, in turn, removing the lifting force at the end of the pick-up tube 2l).

yIn the illustrated embodiment of 'the invention, the housing consists of .a generally circularly-shaped bottom portion 24 and an elongated elevated section 26 formed integrally with the bottom 24. The housing 18 is swivelly mounted on a generally circular disc member Sil which is secured to the base member 12. In this manner the housing and tube 20 may be selectively positioned at various angles as shown in FIG. l. In the present instance, the bottom portion of the housing is formed with an annular portion 34 which engages an lannular peripheral liange 36 on the disc member. The housing is secured to the disc 30 and base member l2 by means of a bolt 38 `as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. An annular recessed portion 4l) is formed in the face of the disc member 30, having an -opening 42 which communicates with `a port 44 in the base member. The annular recess 40 forms a chamber between the -housing 18 and the disc member 30. A tine mesh screen 52 is positioned over the annular recessed portion 4t) in the disc member intermediate the housing and the disc to preclude foreign matter from entering into the vacuum system. The port 44 in the base member terminates in a rearwardly-extending tubular portion 46 which is threaded to mount flexible tube 16 which is in turn connected to a suitable vacuum source. A tubular cover member 5t) is removably secured to a threaded rear portion of the base member, as shown at 5l, to serve `as a handle 14 or gripping portion.

The control port 22, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises an upper cylindrically-shaped portion 22a and a plurality of smaller opening-s 221 extending from the opening 22a through the bottom 24 of the housing, and through the opening 42 and port ylll is liuidly connected 'to the vacuum source. A tapered opening 29 which diverges outwardly from the control port 22 is formed in the elongated section 26. The suction pick-up tube 20 mounts a tubular fitting 31 at one end, which is adapted to be positioned in the tapered opening 29 by means of a press t. The suction pick-up tube is selectively interchangeable, so that a variety of ythe general type shown, for example in FIG. 2, may be used with the apparatus.

In operation, the apparatus is attached to a suitable source of vacuum through tube 16, and when it is desired to pick up a particular object, the index finger is positioned over the control port 22 to thereby effect a strong lifting force at the tip of the suction pick-up tube 2t). In this manner the outer free end 26a of the pick-up tube communicates through openings 22b and port 44 directly with the vacuum source. The free end 29a of the tube 2l) is positioned over the object to be picked up, and then the object may be transported to another desired location. When the user removes his iinger from the control port 22, the pick-up tube 20 is vented to the atmosphere and the lifting force is released. Since the distance between the contro-l pont 22 and the free end 2t)a of the tube 2t) is comparatively small, fthe vacuum foi-ce at the tubes outer free end 25E@ is removed instantaneously upon opening the control port 22 to atmosphere.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such la disclosure, and changes and modications may be incorporated therein within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

l. A suction 'type pick-up apparatus adapted to be conneoted to a vacuum source comprising, a base member, a disc member mounted on said base member, a housing swivelly mounted on said disc member, means defining a ICC port in said base member, means deiining a control port in said housing having one end open to the atmosphere and `a suction tube having a bore therethrough connected at its inner end to said housing in fluid communication with said control port, means for connecting the port in the base to the vacuum source, said disc member and housing having confronting surfaces which are spaced apart to define a chamber therebetween fluidly connecting the control port and the port in the base whereby closing of said one end of the control pont establishes a vacuum between 'the vacuum source and said suction tube through said pont in the base, chamber and the control port, said one end of `the control port being of a greater cross section than the cross `section of lthe bore of the tube whereby opening said one `end of the control port Ito the atmosphere releases said vacuum in said suction tube.

2. A :suction type pick-up apparatus adapted to be connected to a vacuum `source comprising, a base member, a generally cincular disc member mounted on said base member and having a peripheral flange portion, a housing having a generally circular shaped bottom with an annular peripheral shoulder engaging the ange on the disc pontion andan elongated top portion, means for swivelly mounting said housing on said disc member, means delining a port in said base member, means defining a control port in said housing having :one end open to the atrnosphere, means for connecting the port in the base tto the vacuum source, a suction tube having a bore therethrough connected at its inner end Ito the top portion of said housing in uid communication with said control port, said disc member having an annular recessed portion radially inwardly of said ange to define an `annular channel between said disc and said housing iluidly connecting said port in the base and said control port whereby closing of said one end of the control port establishes a vacuum between fthe vacuum source and said suction tube through said port in the base, annular channel and said control por-t, said yone end of the control port being of a greater cross section than the cross section of the bore of the tube whereby opening said one end of the control pont to the atmosphere releases said vacuum in said suction tube.

3. Apparatus according .to claim 2, including a ne mesh screen between 4said housing .and the disc member to preclude foreign matter from entering the vacuum system.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 359,394 Jones et al Mar. 15, 1887 954,927 Burdick Apr. 12, 1910 1,302,028 Fuchs et al. Apr. 29, 1919 2,188,069 Walsh Ian. 23, 1940 2,316,981 Smith Apr. 20, 1943 2,812,061 Plister Nov. 5, 1957 2,831,709 Shaw et al. Apr. 22, 1958 

1. A SUCTION TYPE PICK-UP APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A VACUUM SOURCE COMPRISING, A BASE MEMBER, A DISC MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER, A HOUSING SWIVELLY MOUNTED ON SAID DISC MEMBER, MEANS DEFINING A PORT IN SAID BASE MEMBER, MEANS DEFINING A CONTROL PORT IN SAID HOUSING HAVING ONE END OPEN TO THE ATMOSPHERE AND A SUCTION TUBE HAVING A BORE THERETHROUGH CONNECTED AT ITS INNER END TO SAID HOUSING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CONTROL PORT, MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE PORT IN THE BASE TO THE VACUUM SOURCE, SAID DISC MEMBER AND HOUSING HAVING CONFRONTING SURFACES WHICH ARE SPACED APART TO DEFINE A CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN FLUIDLY CONNECTING 